wfn.org | Solidarity for People of Eritrea

["Frank Imhoff" <FRANKI@elca.org>]

Solidarity for People of Eritrea
LWF General Secretary to meet with high-level government officials

GENEVA, 21 January 2004 (LWI) - The incessant tension between Eritrea and
Ethiopia as well as the status of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will
be among issues addressed at a high-level meeting between government
officials and the general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF),
Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko.

Noko will travel to Eritrea, January 21-25, to visit the LWF member church,
the Evangelical Church of Eritrea, and the LWF field program there. 

The LWF general secretary will be accompanied by the director of the LWF
Department for World Service (DWS), Mr Robert Granke as well as by LWF field
program staff.
 
"I believe that such a visit will be an important opportunity for expressing
solidarity with the people of Eritrea at this time of critical need and of
search for peace in the region. It will also provide a valuable opportunity
for gaining a comprehensive understanding of the Eritrean perspectives on the
current situation," Noko said prior to his departure.

Tensions between the two neighboring countries have been rising since
Ethiopia rejected the decision of the international and independent
Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) to give Eritrea the village of
Badme, where the two-year border war (1998-2000) began.

The visitation program also includes a field trip to war and drought-affected
areas and meetings with religious leaders. "It is essential for me to address
the crucial role of inter-religious dialogue and to encourage faith
communities and government to collaborate with each other," Noko said. 

Eritrea has suffered six years of drought during the past ten years.
According to reports from the LWF/DWS field program, an estimated 1.7 million
people are unlikely to be able to feed themselves in Eritrea in 2004 and will
face a humanitarian catastrophe unless they receive assistance. 

The theme of the 2004 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal "Hear Our Voices"
emphasizes listening to people ravaged by war, conflict and natural disasters
struggling to rebuild their lives. The appeal calls for USD 147.2 million in
food and non-food assistance to meet the most urgent and ongoing human need.
(351 words)

[The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now has 136 member
churches in 76 countries representing over 61.7 million of the 65.4 million
Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas
of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith relations, theology,
humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects
of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva,
Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service. Unless
specifically noted, material presented does not represent positions or
opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the dateline of an article
contains the notation (LWI), the material may be freely reproduced with
acknowledgment.]

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